Acute taurine supplementation enhances thermoregulation and endurance cycling performance in the heat

摘要

This study investigated the effects of oral taurine supplementation on cycling time to exhaustion at a fixed-intensity and thermoregulation in the heat. In a double-blind, randomised crossover design, 11 healthy males participated in a time to exhaustion test in the heat (35 degrees C, 40% RH), cycling at the power output associated with ventilatory threshold, 2h after ingesting: Taurine (50mgkg(-1)) or placebo (3mgkg(-1)maltodextrin). Core and mean skin temperature, mean sweat rate, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), thermal comfort and thermal sensation were measured during exercise and blood lactate concentration (B[La]) was measured after exercise. Taurine supplementation increased time to exhaustion by 10% (25.16 min vs. 22.43 min, p=0.040), end sweat rate by 12.7% (687nLmin(-1) vs. 600nLmin(-1), p=0.034) and decreased B[La] by 16.5% (5.75mmolL(-1) vs. 6.85mmolL(-1), p=0.033). Core temperature was lower in the final 10% of the time to exhaustion (38.5 degrees C vs. 38.1 degrees C, p=0.049). Taurine supplementation increased time to exhaustion and local sweating, while decreasing RPE and core temperature in the later stages of exercise, as well as reducing post-exercise B[La]. This study provides the evidence of taurine's role in thermoregulatory processes. These findings have implications for the short-term preparation strategies of individuals exercising in the heat. Based on these findings, a single dose of taurine 2h prior to training or competition would provide an ergogenic and thermoregulatory effect.